标签： Asia

Former Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama has expressed admiration for China’s rapid technological advancements, emphasizing the potential for a synergistic partnership between Japan and China, particularly in artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics. Speaking at the Shanghai Forum 2025 on Friday, Hatoyama highlighted the complementary strengths of the two nations, suggesting that Japan’s meticulous attention to detail and expertise in basic materials could be effectively paired with China’s robust organizational capabilities and recent industrial achievements to foster mutual benefits. In an exclusive interview with China Daily, Hatoyama underscored the importance of collaboration in these cutting-edge fields, envisioning a macro-micro partnership that could drive innovation and economic growth for both countries. The former prime minister’s remarks come at a time when global technological competition is intensifying, and strategic alliances are increasingly seen as vital for maintaining a competitive edge. The Shanghai Forum 2025, which attracted over 500 guests and representatives, served as a platform for discussing key issues in global development, with Hatoyama’s call for Sino-Japan collaboration resonating strongly among attendees. As both nations continue to invest heavily in AI and robotics, the potential for joint ventures and knowledge exchange could pave the way for groundbreaking advancements in these critical sectors.

A severe health emergency is unfolding within Israel’s Megiddo Prison facility, according to alarming reports from the Palestinian Prisoners Society (PPS). The northern Israeli detention center, long criticized for its treatment of Palestinian detainees, is experiencing dangerous outbreaks of scabies and other communicable diseases that threaten to develop into a full-scale health catastrophe.

Medical assessments confirm that scabies infestations, caused by parasitic mites burrowing beneath the skin, have created widespread dermatological complications among the prison population. The PPS has documented numerous cases where inadequate medical intervention has exacerbated conditions, leading to severe rashes, persistent irritation, and additional health complications.

The advocacy organization attributes this deteriorating situation to systematic neglect by Israeli prison authorities. Detainees reportedly face critical shortages of nutritional food, appropriate clothing, basic hygiene products, and proper access to ventilation and natural lighting. These conditions create an environment where contagious diseases can spread rapidly through the confined population.

Particular concern has been raised regarding the vulnerability of younger detainees, with hundreds of children reportedly at risk. This warning follows the recent death of 17-year-old Walid Khaled Abdullah Ahmed within the facility, though circumstances surrounding his passing remain unconfirmed. His death marks the 63rd fatality among Palestinian detainees in Israeli custody since October 2023.

Israeli newspaper Haaretz previously reported in November that approximately 25% of Palestinian prisoners had contracted scabies infections in preceding months. Inmates have characterized their treatment as deliberately neglectful rather than accidentally inadequate, with one prisoner quoted as saying guards told sick detainees they ‘are terrorists and must die.’

Megiddo Prison has developed a notorious reputation for human rights violations beyond medical neglect. Documentation includes reports of electric shock torture, attacks by security dogs, severe physical beatings, and incidents where prisoners were stripped naked and restrained for extended periods without food or protection from cold temperatures.

A 2024 report by the Commission of Detainees’ and Ex-Detainees’ Affairs further detailed systematic torture practices, medical negligence, incidents of sexual violence, and routine physical abuse within the facility, painting a comprehensive picture of institutional maltreatment.

The strategic city of Aleppo has emerged as the critical battleground in Syria’s reignited civil war, exposing the complex geopolitical fractures that have defined the 13-year conflict. Recent fighting has erupted between multiple factions including former al-Qaeda affiliate Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, Turkish-backed Syrian National Army forces, government loyalists to President Bashar al-Assad, and Kurdish-led defense units.

The predominantly Kurdish neighborhood of Sheikh Maqsoud, with its 30,000 residents and centuries-old Kurdish heritage, has become a primary flashpoint. This district has remained under control of the People’s Protection Units (YPG) since 2012 despite repeated attacks throughout the civil war. The YPG, an ideological affiliate of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), has maintained a delicate balancing act between opposition forces and the Syrian government while attempting to protect local residents.

Historical context reveals that Kurds faced systematic discrimination prior to 2011 under Syria’s Arab nationalist government, with their language and culture suppressed in official contexts. The current administration in northeastern Syria, the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), was established on principles of multi-ethnic, multi-faith decentralization.

Turkey’s support for opposition groups, particularly the Syrian National Army, has created significant tensions as Ankara considers crushing PKK-affiliated groups a primary objective. Recent developments suggest rebel forces have gained control of major northern Syrian cities, raising questions about the sustainability of Kurdish-held territories.

The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which includes Kurdish units and receives U.S. backing, has characterized the new offensive as Turkish-driven with the ultimate goal of occupying Syrian territory. Humanitarian conditions have deteriorated severely with reports of besieged neighborhoods, blocked supply routes, and failed attempts to establish humanitarian corridors. Thousands of Kurdish civilians have been displaced from Aleppo’s outskirts, creating uncertainty about the future of Kurdish presence in the region.

The Israeli airstrike on the fifth-century Church of Saint Porphyrius in Gaza has drawn international attention to the besieged territory’s diminishing Christian population, killing at least 18 civilians who had sought refuge within its sacred walls. This attack on one of Christianity’s oldest surviving places of worship underscores the vulnerable position of Palestinian Christians in the conflict-ridden region.

Gaza’s Christian community, numbering approximately 1,100 today, represents a continuous spiritual lineage dating back to the earliest centuries of Christianity. The territory holds profound biblical significance, specifically mentioned in Acts 8 regarding Philip the Evangelist’s journey between Jerusalem and Gaza. The Church of Saint Porphyrius, established in 425 CE and reconstructed by Crusaders in the 12th century, stands alongside the fourth-century Tell Umm Amer monastery as testament to Gaza’s rich Christian heritage.

Christianity took firm root in Gaza during the fifth century under Byzantine influence, overcoming strong pagan traditions through the missionary work of figures like Bishop Porphyrius. The faith flourished until the Arab conquests brought gradual Islamization, though a Christian minority persisted through centuries of change.

The modern era has witnessed a dramatic decline in Gaza’s Christian population, from approximately 6,000 in the 1960s to today’s precarious numbers. Like their Muslim counterparts, Palestinian Christians have endured displacement since the 1948 Nakba and Israel’s subsequent blockade imposed in 2007. They face severe restrictions on movement, requiring Israeli permits to visit holy sites in Jerusalem or the West Bank—permits that are frequently denied even for major religious observances like Christmas and Easter.

Despite their small numbers, Gaza’s churches have traditionally served as sanctuaries for all civilians during conflicts. The bombing of Saint Porphyrius challenges this historical protection and raises concerns about the preservation of ancient Christian heritage in the region. The incident highlights how Gaza’s Christians, while maintaining unique religious traditions, see themselves as inseparable from the broader Palestinian national identity and shared struggle.

Two decades ago, on March 20, 2003, the United States and its allies launched a devastating military campaign against Iraq, marking the beginning of a conflict that would reshape the nation’s destiny. The invasion, initiated under the pretext of eliminating weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) allegedly harbored by Saddam Hussein, quickly escalated into a full-scale war. The ‘shock and awe’ strategy saw hundreds of missiles rain down on Baghdad, leaving the city in ruins and its citizens in chaos. Despite the swift overthrow of Saddam’s regime, the invasion unleashed a cascade of unintended consequences that continue to haunt Iraq today. The absence of WMDs, later confirmed, raised questions about the legitimacy of the war, while the power vacuum left in its wake fueled sectarian violence, insurgencies, and the rise of extremist groups like the Islamic State (IS). The invasion’s aftermath has been marked by widespread destruction, displacement, and a profound sense of loss among Iraqis. Cities like Mosul, once vibrant cultural hubs, remain scarred by years of conflict. The Christian community, which once thrived in Iraq, has dwindled significantly, with many fleeing persecution. Despite the fall of IS, the road to recovery remains fraught with challenges, as Iraqis grapple with the enduring legacy of a war that promised liberation but delivered devastation.